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How to Support LGBTQ+ Students
In today’s political climate, it can be hard to do what’s right. But regardless of your personal beliefs, LGBTQ+ students exist in every community and deserve to feel safe at school. Here are some ways you can help make this happen. Create a Safe and Inclusive Environment Display visible support to make sure students know…
You’re Teaching Word Problems Wrong
Teachers in all grade levels agree: teaching students to decode word problems can be a real challenge. Even students who excel with math calculation may struggle with word problems due to any number of reasons: learning disability, lack of exposure, being an English language learner, or reading comprehension difficulties. One of the biggest challenges in…
How to Celebrate the 100th Day of School with Middle and High School Students
I still remember my 100th day of first grade. Everyone had to bring in 100 of some item of their choice. Some students brought in common household items, like 100 paper clips or 100 buttons. One student brought in 100 cute little candies (shaped like bees!) that one of her parents made. I, ever the…
Low-Prep Sub Plans for Middle School or High School Science
It’s cold/flu/RSV/COVID season, and that means unexpected school absences. And what’s the last thing you want to do when you or a family member is sick? Write sub plans. Whether it’s a planned absence or you need emergency sub plans for your science classroom, I’ve got you covered with dozens of engaging ideas. And you…
How to Teach Your Students the Right Way to Email a Teacher
Writing an email is a life skill. Students will use it throughout school, including college if they attend, and most likely throughout their career. I don’t know about you, but I’ve gotten my fair share of terrible (and sometimes funny) emails from middle and high school students. Truth is, many of them have just been…
How to Start the Year Off Right as a Special Education Teacher
Are you looking for back-to-school tips for special education teachers? Maybe you’re a first-year teacher or starting in a new school or grade level. Maybe, like me, you’re just always looking for ways to have a better year than last year! If you want to start the year off right, you’ve come to the right…
3 Back-to-School Ideas for Middle School Math
The first days of school should be spent learning names, building relationships with students, and going over classroom expectations. Are you wondering how to sneak some math in there…just a little bit? If you’re looking to incorporate fun math activities into the first week of school, check out the ideas below. Math Icebreakers You know…
How to Turn Weaknesses into Strengths When Writing an IEP
One of the first pages in an IEP is the Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance page (often abbreviated as PLAAFP, PLOP, or PLP). Special education teachers disagree on best practices in the PLAAFP: some think the page should be strictly data-driven, while some teachers prefer to include some anecdotal information as well.…
How to Build and Maintain Relationships with Students
When you’re experiencing challenging behavior in the classroom, one piece of advice tends to circulate above all others: build relationships. But how do you build relationships with students when you barely have time during the day to do everything else? What if you didn’t start the year off on the right foot, and you’re trying…
What is Executive Functioning? And how can I help my students who struggle with it?
We all have students who struggle academically. It’s likely you also have students who struggle with executive functioning. But what is it? You know the students. The ones that are smart but scatterbrained. The ones who shove loose papers into their backpack. The ones who save everything until the last minute, or take five minutes…
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The Creative Access Blog 